Grease

Grease was originally written for the stage in 1971 but it is the 1978 film version with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John that most people are familiar with. It tells the story of teenagers making their way through the complexities of love and friendship in their last year at Rydell High School. The two main characters of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dunbrowski were confidently portrayed by Zac Paling and Lauren Brown. They both looked, sang and acted well but I just felt there was a slight lack of chemistry between them. The T-Birds - Ben Featherstone (Kenicke), Daniel Mason (Sonny), Connor Stanmore (Roger) and Evan Mason (Doody) were all excellent in their respective roles. They were all good singers and great ‘movers and shakers’ -their dancing was first-rate. The Pink Ladies too were equal in every way to the boys. Francesca Fleming (Rizzo), Laura Hewitt ( Jan), Chloe Gibbons (Marty) and Lauren Speed (Frenchy) were all superb. The main characters were ably supported by Niall Hopkinson as Eugene, Shauna Kimberley as Patty, Nicola Smith as Miss Lynch, Alicia Onza as Cha Cha Di Gregario, Matthew Staten as Teen Angel, Connor Lovatt as Johnny Casino and James Hallam carrying off the role of Vince Fontaine with great panache. The stand-out performance for me, came from Francesca Fleming as the feisty Rizzo. Her singing of ‘Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee’ but especially that of ‘There are Worse Things I Could Do’ was outstanding. Connor MacNamara must be congratulated on his lively and imaginative choreography. The many numbers involving big dance routines were all splendidly and energetically delivered by the whole cast. Good costumes, lighting and sound all added to make this a colourful, lively and fun show. Everyone involved could definitely say “We Go Together” because to put on a show like this does need just that - togetherness!! Well done to Dot and Melanie and the whole team for once again giving us a night to remember.

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